THE man in charge of today's England soccer team paid tribute to a star of the past at the Examiner community awards.

THE man in charge of today's England soccer team paid tribute to a star of the past at the Examiner community awards.

Former Town player and 1966 World Cup winning team member Ray Wilson received the Lifetime Achievement honour at last night's Examiner Community Awards from former fellow team member Sir Bobby Charlton.

And England manager Sven Goran Eriksson sent a personal message which was read out at the glittering event.

It said: "The legend of 1966 lives on and Ray deserves to be remembered among the greats of English football. Although several of his fellow heroes from Sir Alf Ramsay's famous team are better known around the world, Ray was recognised by his fellow professionals as an outstanding defender whose hallmarks were his reliability and consistency.

"People always say that Ray had real class. He was also a great servant at club level who I know is very fondly remembered at Huddersfield, Everton and Oldham Athletic, both as a player and a gentleman."

Ray - who became a funeral director in Huddersfield after retiring from football and still lives in the area - attended the event at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top, with his wife, Pat, and family.

The awards are the fourth staged by the Examiner and main sponsors, regeneration agency Huddersfield Pride.

Huddersfield Pride director Tess Butler told the nominees: "It is people like you who make Huddersfield such a great place to live."

Examiner managing director John Griffith, who co-hosted the event with Examiner promotions executive Helen Turner, said: "The stories we have heard tonight have been so heart-warming. Everyone shortlisted is a winner, no matter who comes up to collect the award."

Examiner editor Roy Wright added: "It is often bad news which makes the headlines. Well, tonight it is different. It is all good news about some truly remarkable people."